Begonia plant named ‘BGDCR21-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Begonia semperflorens  cultivar named ‘BGDCR21-0’ is disclosed, characterized by, double red flowers, and bronze leaves, uniform plant shapes that branch easily and plants that flower early. The new variety is a  Begonia , and is normally used as an ornamental garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Begonia semperflorens.

Variety denomination: ‘BGDCR21-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program. The new variety originated as the result of a crossing performed in October of 2007 of an unnamed, unpatented proprietary seed parent variety of Begonia semperflorens with the pollen parent, an unnamed, unpatented proprietary variety of Begonia semperflorens. The new variety was discovered by the inventor, Shinichi Nishimoto, a citizen of Japan, at a research greenhouse in Yama, Fukuoka, Japan, in September of 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘BGDCR21-0’ was first performed in Yama, Fukuoka, Japan in June 2009. ‘BGDCR21-0’ has since produced several generations by vegetative cuttings and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BGDCR21-0’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BGDCR21-0.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BGDCR21-0’ as a new and distinct Begonia semperflorens cultivar:

-   -   1. Double flower.     -   2. Bronze leaf color.     -   3. Red flower color.     -   4. Easy branching.     -   5. Early flowering.     -   6. Compact, regular plant shape.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BGDCR21-0’ are similar to plants of the seed parent variety in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘BGDCR21-0’ produce a double flower, compared to the single flower of the seed parent. Additionally, plants of the new variety grow faster, and are taller and wider than plants of the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BGDCR21-0’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent variety in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘BGDCR21-0’ produce different colored flowers, and different colored foliage. Additionally, plants of the new variety are more uniform and compact in shape than the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BGDCR21-0’ are similar to plants of the commercial variety, Begonia semperflorens ‘Doublet Red’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,638, in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘BGDCR21-0’ are taller and have a more uniform growth habit. Plants of the new cultivar are also more tolerant of common fungal diseases of Begonia semperflorens than ‘Doublet Red’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Oxnard, Calif. under commercial practice during the summer and fall in a greenhouse with day temperatures about 21° to 27° C., night temperatures about 16° to 18° C. and light levels about 4,000 to 8,000 foot-candles. Unrooted cuttings were directly planted in 6 inch containers and grown for about eight weeks.

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘BGDCR21-0’ grown in a greenhouse. The pot size is a commercial 6 inch pot. The plant shown is approximately 8 weeks old. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘BGDCR21-0’ plants grown in a commercial controlled greenhouse in Oxnard, Calif. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia semperflorens ‘BGDCR21-0’. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 8 weeks. -   Container size of plant described: 6 inch pot.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Vegetative tip cuttings. -   Time to develop roots: About 15 to 20 days at approximately 20° C. -   Root description: Fibrous, fleshy, fine.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Compact, upright and uniform plant habit; mounded     inverted triangle. -   Pot size of plant described: 6 inch. -   Height: 13 cm. -   Plant spread: 22 cm. -   Growth rate: Low to moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Moderately well branched, approximately 3     breaks from a pinch. -   Length of primary lateral branches: 8 cm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: About 10. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Form.—Round in cross section.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 146C, flushed Greyed-Purple             184B.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, shiny.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong and flexible. -   Internode length: 3.5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 6 to 8 per primary lateral branch.         -   Average length.—Approximately 6.0 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 6.0 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Orbicular.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Very slightly scalloped.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Aspect.—Strong upward curve to overall leaf, margins             slightly curled under.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Brown 200B. Young             foliage under side: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 166A, strong             coloration along veins, Yellow-Green 144B. Mature foliage             upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187A. Mature foliage             under side: Near RHS Greyed-Red 178A.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144B. Venation color under side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144B.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 0.9 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 0.4 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 151C,             strong flush near Greyed-Red 180A. Texture: Glabrous.         -   Stipule description.—Approximately 2 per node, non-fleshy,             becoming completely papery before leaves fully expand.             Length: Approximately 0.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately             0.4 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Texture:             Glabrous.

FLOWER

-   Flowering habit: Continuously flowering during Spring and Summer. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Double flowers with     numerous tepals arranged in axillary cymes. Cymes held above     foliage, approximately 3 to 5 flowers per cyme. -   Cyme size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 7 cm.         -   Height.—Approximately 3.5 cm. -   Flower longevity on plant: About 10 days. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Orbicular.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Red 53B. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 2.2 cm.         -   Depth.—Approximately 1.5 cm. -   Tepals:     -   -   Quantity.—Approximately 50.         -   Arrangement.—Rosette.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—Slight upward curve.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Matte.         -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: Near RHS Red 53A. When             opening, lower surface: Near RHS Red 53A. Fully opened,             upper surface: Near RHS Red 53B. Fully opened, lower             surface: Near RHS Red 53B. -   Flower bracts:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—2.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.1 cm.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Aspect.—Strongly curved inward towards tepals.         -   Color.—Near RHS Red 53C. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—Average 3.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Angle.—About 15° to the lateral branch.         -   Strength.—Moderate, flexible.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, shiny.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple 184C. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Angle.—About 15° to the lateral branch.         -   Strength.—Moderate, flexible.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, shiny.         -   Color.—One side near Red 46A, other side near Red 48B. -   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Reproductive organs are not present on the double flowers.     Infrequently, 1 or 2 single flowers occur on a plant. The following     describes the reproductive organs found on these single flowers. -   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—8. -   Anthers:     -   -   Description.—Fleshy, undulating, linear.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow 9B.         -   Pollen.—Not observed. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Style.—Length: Approximately 0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 145B.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145D.             Ovary Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures from     approximately 5° to 35° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘BGDCR21-0’ as herein illustrated and described. 